PLYMOUTH BRETHREN CHRISTIAN CHURCH
​EXLUSIVE BRETHREN

At Open & Candid we have intensively researched and investigated the organisation known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, also known as the Exclusive Brethren. 

Led by Sydney based businessman Bruce Hales, The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is a tiny sect, with circa 50,000 members worldwide.  Located mainly in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada. They also have a very small number of followers in Argentina, The Caribbean, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Denmark & Sweden. The UK membership is approx. 15,000 members & they have amassed incredible wealth. We share our findings into this unusual sect/cult/church/business.​

Business

Over 2000 companies registered on companies house in the UK for this tiny sect, business is very clearly a big part of brethren life. We would even go so far to query, if the commercial enterprise is more important to the leadership than the religious aspect for members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church?

Covid Contracts

This is where our interest in the Plymouth Brethren started back in 2020, with the first link to the PBCC via Medco Solutions director Ross Robertson. Since then we have worked with Byline Times, All the Citizens, The Sunday Times, iNews, Private Eye, The Good Law Project, Blackballed, The Age & Press Progress in highlighting the amazing story of the Brethren Covid contracts. 

Controversy

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church have courted controversy in a number of different areas, across the globe. From lobbying politicians, to donations for right wing political causes, from the treatment of ex brethren members, to the covid contracts. We look at some of the big stories.

Lobbying/Elections

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church strangely enough do not vote in elections! The same brethren members though, have in the last 20 years been involved in supporting right wing parties in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand. 

History

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church aka Exclusive Brethren are just one branch of the original Plymouth Brethren. We look at the history of the Bruce Hales led branch, a branch that now seems very far removed from the original aim of the Plymouth Brethren, when they were founded in the 1820's in Dublin by John Nelson Darby. 

Shutting Up/Abuse

Shutting up is a form of punishment for members of the Exclusive Brethren, many ex members report on what it like to experience, often with very little evidence being given to why members were shut up, or members being shut up for what we would find hard to understand. We also delve into the number of abuse cases reported over the years.

Rapid Relief Team (RRT)

The Rapid Relief Team, founded in 2012-2013, is the PR arm of the Exclusive Brethren. It was founded as a way to show evidence of the PBCC/Exclusive Brethren having a public benefit aspect to their charitable work. 

Charitable Status

Back in 2012 in the UK, the Charity Commission rejected an application for charitable status from an exclusive brethren gospel hall trust (meeting room). The story that followed was a remarkable story of how the PBCC fought to keep the importance benefit of having charitable status. 

Videos

Over the years, there have been many new stories & documentaries, that try to look inside the PBCC/Exclusive Brethren. We have built a collection for your viewing.

Blackballed

James DiFiore's Blackballed podcast, with Press Progress are leading the fight in Canada to expose the PBCC cult. The series of podcasts give an excellent insight from an ex brethren member perspective.,

Miscellaneous

Brethren Mainstream News

 News items featuring the Brethren

Klondike Papers

Where it all began for the Klondike Papers
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